It’s been a while! How are you all doing out there? We hope you have had a lovely summer? Here in Copenhagen, summer continues with high temperatures and warm nights… which keeps the motivation for riding Bullitts at a high.
It has been somewhat of a slight roller coaster since our summer holidays, the feeling here in Denmark is of general positivity and as of yesterday all remaining restrictions have been lifted. We are constantly reminded though of the constraints and challenges facing our friends and colleagues working on the production side of things, as factory closures and component delays due to local lockdowns are still a huge issue. Not a week goes by without some aspect of the Bullitt suddenly becoming unfathomably scarce, be it hub gears or something else which seems simple enough but suddenly throws building a complete bike into disarray.
That said, we have quite a few options still available, both in stock for purchase immediately and with a few weeks waiting time, which in an industry with leads times now pushing into 2023, seems an achievement in itself. The eBullitt 6100 series is a fantastic bike and available now, whilst the EP8 equipped eBullitt will be available from November, so again, not too long a wait if you decide you really need the extra grunt of the bigger engine.
Talking about the differences between the two Shimano STePS motors we offer, after a fairly lengthy 60km ride using an EP8 yesterday, we felt like it would be a good opportunity to talk about two, their specs and more importantly the different firmware which results in wildly different ride characteristics.
On paper, both are 250w motors and are quite similar in terms of weight, whilst the 6100 produces a maximum torque of 60 newton meters, whilst the EP8 has the more pokey 85 newton meters.
It’s worth bearing in mind that under current EU regulations, both max out their assistance at 25km/h, you will come up to that speed quicker with the EP8 and the resistance in the motor itself allows you to freewheel and pedal more easily beyond that limit.
This ability to pedal and generate power beyond the point at which the motor cuts out, has the benefit that the engine is engaged more effectively and can result in battery savings.
The interesting thing to add into this equation and something potential buyers should really take into consideration before deciding which eBullitt model they should buy, is the firmware and specific riding style these two systems favour.
After a decent amount of time riding the EP8 it occurred to us just how much it encourages a very active riding style -ie, out of the saddle climbing. Placed in Trail mode and really giving it some gusto, the EP8 manages to make you feel like some sort of Olympian. The difference in power delivery between Trail and Boost modes is also more subtle when compared to the older 8000 series too.
This is all well and good, but it assumes one thing of the rider and the bike, that the weight and cargo is placed low and or isn’t of a large volume. An active, out of the saddle riding style might not be that feasible if you are loaded with goods that are high, or indeed with a canopy containing young passengers as the swing momentum caused by rocking the bike around isn’t particularly pleasant.
This brings in an interesting and very real argument in favour of the 6100 for many users, both businesses carrying large volumes of cargo and families carrying children, those essentially who need to take a more relaxed seated approach when riding. The power delivery of the 6100 suits those who remain seated really well and is both powerful enough setting off from standstill and consistant in it’s delivery.
Both the 6100 and EP8 are available with XT Di2 11-speed options equipped with cassette and derailleur systems and Nexus Di2 5-speed options with chain and the Gates Carbon Drive Belt. Additionally, the 6100 is also available with Alfine Di2 11-speed in chain and belt variants.
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